The German government announced on Saturday that it is preparing a new military aid plan for Ukraine, worth 2.7 billion euros, which will include the delivery of several tanks, armored vehicles and anti-aircraft systems.
“We all want an end to this horrific war of Russia against the Ukrainian people, but unfortunately that is not yet in sight. That is why Germany will provide all possible help as long as it is necessary.”Defense Secretary Boris Pistorius said in a statement.
The military relief plan under preparation includes 30 additional Leopard-1 A5 tanks, 20 new Marder armored vehicles and a hundred other smaller armored vehicles, 200 surveillance drones, four new Iris-T air defense systems and their platform launchers, numerous anti-aircraft missiles, 18 howitzer guns and ammunition .
According to Der Spiegel magazine, this is the largest military aid package from Berlin to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.
The announcement comes on the eve of a possible visit to Germany by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to information from the German media, Zelensky, who is in Rome today, may travel to Germany on Sunday to meet the country’s leaders and collect the European Charlemagne Prize.
The visit has not yet been officially confirmed by Berlin.
Germany has long been criticized by Kiev and its European partners, especially in the East, for its timid military aid to Ukraine. For several months, however, Berlin has intensified its efforts in this area.
Berlin has already pledged 14 Leopard-2 A6s from its Bundeswehr army reserves, which are more efficient than the Leopard-1s included in the new aid plan. Germany has already started training Ukrainian soldiers with these tanks.
Source: DN
